Cricket | Sunfoil Series

Lions and Knights draw

The Chevrolet Knights and the bizhub Highveld Lions have drawn their Sunfoil Series match after Obus Pienaar and Michael Erlank batted for the entire session between lunch and tea on day four at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Sunday.

A fantastic 132 from Temba Bavuma and a 41-ball 58 from Imran Tahir helped the Lions post 313 for eight declared in their second innings, leaving the Knights a winning target of 369.

The opening pair of Erlank and Rudi Second faced a tricky six overs late on day three, and came through it 13 for no loss.

With the ball still new on the morning of day four, the openers were attacked and, in the sixth over of the day, Pumelela Matshikwe found the edge of Second’s bat. Wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile made no mistake and took the catch to dismiss Second for 12.

Rilee Rossouw joined Erlank at the crease and started to chip away at the massive total needed for victory. The partnership was only 36 runs when Brett Pelser claimed the wicket of Rossouw, having the left-hander caught behind for 24.

The next delivery brought another wicket. Ryan Bailey’s first delivery was enough to see him caught by Tsolekile, for his third catch of the innings.

Pienaar came to the crease and was positive from the start -- he found himself 24 not out from 31 deliveries, while Erlank was still unbeaten on 36 at lunch.

After lunch, the pair slowed the run-rate down and clearly had no intention of trying to get the 369 runs for victory. Both Pienaar and Erlank went past 50 as they looked comfortable at the crease.

The pair went into tea with their partnership on 122 with Erlank on 73 and Pienaar on 70.